Adjustable support for partition-to-floor mountings



March .17, 1959 R. H. BOLT I 2,877,875

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR PARTITION-TO-FLOOR MOUNTINGS Filed Sept. 12, .1956

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s, R.H.BOLT

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR PARTITION-TO- FLOOR MOUNTIN GS Robert H. Bolt, Rock Island, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Deere & Company, a corporation of Delaware Application September 12, 1956, Serial No. 609,494

4 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to an adjustable support and more particularly to a support that finds particular utility in the floor mounting of portable partitions such as used in factories, ofiices, warehouses, etc.

In installations of the character noted above, one of the prime advantages of partition portability is that partitioned spaces may be altered economically and with a relatively slight amount of labor. Nevertheless, it is desirable that when the partitions are installed they be level and plumb, particularly in cases in which the partitions are provided in multiple sections including panels that may be selectively chosen from the class including wood, glass, doors, and other material.

It has heretofore been known to level portable partitions and panels by the use of wedges and other means characterized largely by either makeshift arrangements or complicated devices. According to the present invention, a simple leveling shoe or adjustable support is provided. This support features a two-piece shoe, one piece being securable to the floor and including an uphill slot in which follower means associated with the other member is capable of running selectively uphill or downhill to level the proximate portion of the partition, it being understood that two or more such shoes may be used on a partition, depending upon the size thereof.

It is another feature of the invention to provide the upper or top member with a slot parallel to its partitionsupporting surface and in which the follower runs, whereby the position of the upper member may be adjusted not only uphill or downhill but also lengthwise of the base member. Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of the follower means as selectively releasable and lockable fasteners, the provision of additional fastcner means to secure the adjusted position of the top member relative to the base, and other features and advantages that Will appear as a preferred embodiment of the adjustable support is disclosed in detail in the ensuing specification and accompanying drawing, the several figures of which will be described below.

l is a perspective view, partly in section, showing a typical partition-to-fioor mounting, utilizing the adjustable support.

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the adjustable support operating to support a pair of adjacent partitions.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the adjustable support showing in full lines one extreme position of the top member relative to the base and in broken lines the other extreme position of the top member.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the top member by itself.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 2, with the partitions omitted.

The adjustable shoe is designated in its entirety by the letter S and comprises a U-shaped base member B and an inverted U-shaped top member T, each of which may be economically constructed of sheet metal of suitable gauge. The base member B has a flat bottom 10, which rests on a floor F, and further includes a pair of upright walls 12 rigidly joined to and rising from the bottom 10.

2,877,875 Patented Mar. 17, 1959 "ice The base member may be secured to the hour -by means of nails or screws or any other suitable connections, nails 14 being selected here for purposes of illustration.

Each wall 12 has therein a slot .16 disposed at an angle to the bottom 10. These slots are transversely alined, are similar, and, of course, have the same angle.

The top member T has a fiat top 18 and a pair of opposed and depending side walls 20, each of which has a lengthwise slot 22 therein. These slots are parallel to the fiat top 18 and are, of course, similar and transversely alined. The fiat top 18 is adapted to support one or more partitions P. The partitions are shown as comprising a bottom plate 24 and side panels 26; although, the particular nature of the panel is broadly immaterial.

The means connecting the top member T to the base member B comprises a pair of follower means 28, each in the form of a selectively releasable and lockable fastener. A typical bolt and nut, as shown, will serve the purpose. After the base member B is secured to the floor, in a manner that will be described below, one or more panels P may be mounted on the flat top 18 of the top member T, the fasteners 28 passing through registering portions of associated slots 16 and 22. The panel or panels and the top member T may be adjusted in unison relative to the floor F by causing the follower or fastener means 28 to move uphill or downhill in the slots 16. In view of the presence of the slots 22, the top member T may be adjusted lengthwise of the fasteners 28 and therefore may be enabled to extend beyond the base member B (Fig. 2) to support proximate portions of adjacent panels. After the desired dual-adjustment of the top member T has been accomplished, the fasteners 28 may be tightened and, in addition, additional securing means, such as one or more sheet metal screws 30 ma be employed. 1

Another advantage of the dual adjustability of the top member T is illustrated in Fig. 3. In that instance, the base member B is located on the floor in the absence of the partition. The top member T is then moved, via its slots 22, to the extreme left hand position, as shown in full lines. This exposes the right hand portion of the base member B for the driving of the right hand nail or screw, as at 14. The top member T may then be shifted to its extreme right hand position, as illustrated in broken lines, and an additional nail or screw 14 may be driven in place.

The height of the walls 12 of the base member B is such that even with the top member T in its uppermost position, suilicient portions of the wall 12 project above the top surface 18 of the top member T as to embrace the sides of the partition P so as to prevent lateral displacement of the partition relative to the shoe S. If desired, the plate 24 of the partition may be secured to the shoe by nails or screws passed through the side walls 12 of the base member B into the panels 26. Normally, however, the assembled partition-to-floor relationship will be embellished with appropriate base board and molding. On the other hand, finishing of the assembly is a matter of individual taste and those details are not involved here.

As will be readily appreciated, the adjustable support or shoe is simple in design and may be economically mass produced. It is eflicient in operation and the dual adjustment renders it extremely flexible in the setting up of partitions and the like. The shoe may be removed from the floor without destruction of it and without material damage to the floor and may be re-used.

Other advantages and features not categorically enumerated will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as will many modifications and alterations in the preferred embodiments disclosed, all of which may be achieved without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable support of the class described, comprising: a base member of U-shaped section, having a bottom and a pair of walls rigidly joined thereto and rising therefrom, each wall having a slot therein angled to the base and said slots being alined and similar; an inverted U-shaped top member having a fiat top and opposite depending walls lying respectively alongside the base member walls, each top member wall having a slot therein parallel to said flat top and said top member wall slots being alined and identical and respectively having portions in register with portions of the base member slots; a pair of pivotal fastener means, one passed through each base member slot portion and its registered top member slot portion and movable selectively uphill or downhill in the base member slots for height adjustment of the top member relative to the bottom of the base member, said top member being rockable about the fastener means to a level status and being also movable relative to the base member and fastener means lengthwise of and via the top member wall slots while remaining level and at a selected height; and said fastener means being securable to maintain the adjusted position of the top member.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, including: additional means cooperative between the members for securing the adjusted position of said top member.

3. An adjustable support of the class described, comprising: a base member of U-shaped section, having a bottom and a pair of walls rigidly joined thereto and rising therefrom, each wall having a slot therein angled to the base and said slots being alined and similar; an inverted U-shaped top member having a flat top and opposite depending walls lying respectively alongside the base member walls, each top member wall having a slot therein parallel to said flat top and said top member wall slots being alined and identical and respectively having portions in register with portions of the base member slots; 2. pair of pivotal follower means, one

passed through each base member slot portion and its registered top member slot portion and movable selectively uphill or downhill in the base member slots for height adjustment of the top member relative to the bottom of the base member, said top member being rockable about the fastener means to a level status and being also movable relative to the base member and follower means lengthwise of and via the top member wall slots while remaining level and at a selected height; and means cooperative between the members to maintain the adjusted position of the top member.

4. An adjustable support of the class described, comprising: a base member of U-shaped section, having a bottom and a pair of walls rigidly joined thereto and rising therefrom, each wall having a slot therein angled to the base and said slots being alined and similar; a top member received between the base member and having a flat top and further having opposite side walls respectively proximate to the base member side walls, said top member having slot means therein parallel to its flat top and opening laterally at said side walls for registration of opposed and alined portions thereof with alined portions of the base member slots; pivotal follower means passed through the alined and registered slot and slot means portions and movable selectively uphill and downhill in the base member slots for height adjustment of the top member relative to the base member, said top member being rockable about the fastener means to a level status and being also movable relative to the base References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,599,692 Trout Sept. 14, 1926 1,965,600 Koenig et al. July 10, 1937 2,066,718 Dietz Jan. 5, 1937 2,733,786 Drake Feb. 7, 1956 

